Welcome back to the WTTN Best of 2023!
This year I opted to split books and shows up into smaller categories based on Genre so that they’re more accurately rated. After all, it’s hard to compare a documentary to a dating show to a feature film. Today’s category is one of my personal favorite categories: Reality Television! Chinwe and I are the only ones who watch reality TV, so this list will be made up of our opinions. All shows received at least a 4 star rating.
9. The Amazing Race
Genre: Competition
Season: 35
2022 Ranking: Unwatched
I Love watching The Amazing Race, but this year wasn’t my favorite. There weren’t a ton of villainous characters that I enjoyed rooting against, and to be honest that’s the primary reason I watch the show. That being said, it was still fun to see them travel to new places and compete against each other around the world. I hope to one day get to go on the show. Casting, cast me! —Jocelyn
8. The Ultimatum: Queer Love
Genre: Dating
Season: 1
While I haven’t watched a single season of the original Ultimatum, I hopped on the opportunity to watch the queer season. It was SO MESSY. None of these people should have ended up together, and in the end that was more or less the result we saw. I’m not sure if I would have enjoyed this if it were straight (and I haven’t bothered to find out), but the queer version was hilarious and made for great content. —Jocelyn
7. Love is Blind
Genre: Dating
Season: 4
2022 Ranking: Not Ranked
As you may have noticed, we ranked season 4 of this show but not season 5. That’s because season 4 was so much better than season 5! There’s couples that actually made it, and the drama in 4 was an enjoyable level of chaos. The drama in season 5 makes me think that could be the last time we ever see the show on our television screens. —Jocelyn
6. Love Island UK
Genre: Dating
Season: 10
2022 TV Shows Ranking: 12th
I always adore Love Island UK, because it feels like the most real reality TV show that exists. A bunch of hot young British singles gather together to date for the entire summer. Because they’re nearly always together (unlike The Bachelor, where dates are only a couple hours long), I believe in their love. There was a mix of interesting and boring islanders this year, but it was still a great show. —Jocelyn
5. Squid Game: The Challenge
Genre: Competition
Season: 1
I admit I was initially skeptical about how Netflix could take the life or death stakes of Squid Game and turn it into a reality television show. The 4.56 million dollar stakes did that successfully. As a huge reality TV watcher, it was highly amusing to see all of the people commentating on this show as if reality TV is an entirely new genre. Villains make things interesting! It’s what makes this show fun! —Jocelyn
4. The Bachelorette
Genre: Dating
Season: 20
2022 Ranking: Not Ranked
The Bachelor franchise was going downhill, but The Bachelorette Season 20 marked a turn in a new direction. Charity Lawson was the perfect Bachelorette, and it’s notable that she was only cast after the ousting of the previous racist showrunner. It felt like a genuine show, and I believe the final couple could really make it! —Jocelyn
3. Survivor
Genre: Competition
Season: 45
2022 Ranking: Unwatched
I recently got back into Survivor, and I’m so glad I did. Not only have I been viewing absolutely everything in my life—including other reality TV—through the lens of Survivor, but this entire season has been incredibly fun to watch, and it’s not just me that feels that way. Being able to watch a show live, cheer for the players, and keep up with the drama on Twitter definitely added to my overall enjoyment in the era of primarily bulk-upload streaming shows. —Jocelyn
2. Perfect Match
Genre: Dating
Season: 1
This show was so fun! Netflix brought back all-stars from all of their previous reality dating shows, and it worked brilliantly. While I don’t think any of these people were actually trying to find love, I had a great time watching them goof around and hook up on the beach. —Jocelyn, Read the Full Review
1. The Golden Bachelor
Genre: Dating
Season: 1
I cannot even explain how much I adored The Golden Bachelor. Gary was charming, and all of the women on the season made it full perfection. This was the first time The Bachelor franchise decided to dabble in finding love for senior citizens, and it was most certainly the right decision. If “for the right reasons” was a show, it would be this one. Now, I just need a Golden Bachelorette season for every single woman that was cast. —Jocelyn
What were your favorite Reality TV shows of 2023?
